What the novel lacks in plot it makes up for in racy humor, rich atmosphere, and vivid characterization. Scenes like a staged “marriage” at Moll’s are uproarious, and the brothel offers a heartening sense of connection and camaraderie. Lawrence draws a sharp contrast, though, with life outside it, as Billy’s London is a foreboding place full of thieves and vagrants speaking a street dialect called “cat language,” one of many striking details that bring the milieu to life. (We learn that “stairs were dancers, cloaks doashes, pretty wenches dimbermorts.”)
Charming and sympathetic, Billy aims to rise above his origins in poverty, and Lawrence showcases his bold steps to do so in brisk, witty prose. Other characters also engage: Sukey, an aspiring stage actor who also yearns for a better life, makes a grand sidekick, while a rugged carpenter and a dapper “Beggar Extraordinaire” round out the cast as Billy’s competing love interests. The brothel setting might lead some readers to expect graphic sex, but Billy’s story veers more toward light historical romance.
Takeaway: A racy charmer finds a young man in Georgian London seeking a fresh start at a bawdy house.
Great for fans of: K.J. Charles, Mackenzi Lee
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A
